The power came back on a few minutes ago. It’s been out since ten in the morning. Where we live, electricity is pretty cheap, so that’s how we heat our home. Unfortunately, we’re at a disadvantage when the power goes out in the winter.
It didn’t really bother us until a few hours in. Then the house grew noticeably colder. We dressed in multiple layers, found our flashlights, and lit candles. The cats lounged with us under blankets on the couch. It was quite cozy, but I worried about the pipes and everyone’s comfort during bedtime.
There are things I’d like to do to better prepare for such instances. My long term goal is to add an extension to the house and include a wood stove in the plans. Not only is it a reliable, safe source of warmth in these emergencies, it would have allowed us to cook.
Brigid and the Winter Crone were in my thoughts today. I made offerings and prayed for warmth, to give thanks for what we have, and for safety. Losing the power during a blizzard for most of the day is an inconvenience for us, but nothing serious. None of us rely on any equipment for our health. We had shelter from the storm. We had plenty to eat, and my husband picked up some warm dinner on his way from work. We had our phones and a robust data plan, but I did stop using mine after a while just in case. We’re remarkably blessed.
Had it gone on more than a day, things could have been bad, especially for the pipes. I’m grateful to Brigid for warmth and light, to An Cailleach for wintry lessons of humility, and to all the people out there working to restore power.
Sometimes it takes annoyances to put everything into perspective.
Author M. A. Phillips 